Parity in a game dominated by the wind

1-12 to 1-12 24th February 2018 Vs. Mallow

On Friday nights last (24th Feb), Killavullen and Mallow shared the points in the latest instalment of the Avondhu Division 1 football league, both teams scoring 1-12 each over the hour, however that does not tell the whole story.

The wind was the dominant factor in the game, and Killavullen were playing with it directly at their backs for the 1st thirty minutes and quickly raced into 3 point lead, all courtesy of Charlie Lillis within the initial five minutes. Mallow got their initial score from a free, which was poorly defended by Killavullen. Sean O Regan and Eoghan Buckley were doing well at midfield at this stage, and our forwards got a lively supply of ball. Gary Lane scored in the 9th minute before Dave Brosnan scored another point from a free in the 10th, after the same player was upended himself.

Mallow pulled point back from another free, in the 16th minute and Killavullen, missed a fee gilt edged changes to extend our advantage. A kick out from the Mallow goalkeeper held up in the wind, and Gary Lane gathered it, before his perfect pass found Dave Brosnan in space, who goaled from close range in the 17th minute. Charlie Lillis was proving to be a real menace to Mallow if he got the right ball, and he was fouled, and he converted the resultant free himself to extend our lead. Dave Brosnan scored the next point, before Mallow was reduced numerically following another foul on Lillis in the 24th minute.
From there until half time, we had a lot of possession and score points courtesy of a fine effort from Seamus Fox from distance, when he was marauding forward from his half back berth Dave Brosnan and Gary Lane got the remaining scores of the half, to bring our half time tally to 1-10 and Mallow has scored 0-02.

Such was the strength of the wind, that we wondered if it was enough.

On the resumption, Killavullen had the opening score of the game, when Colm O Connell displayed good foot work to get an opening and shoot.

However Mallow came right back into the game, with points of their own in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th minutes to instil some believe in their retrieval mission. The next 10 minutes was a dour affair, littered to poor passing and interceptions, before Mallow broke the malaise to score in the 14th minute. Two quick points in the 15th minute, the second from a kick out that went askew had reduce the deficit further.

Mallow scored again in the 16th minutes, and then really went for the jugular with a goal of their own in the 21st minute. They scored again, to bring parity to the game in the 22nd minute, and with the wind and momentum now, you would fancy their chances to push on and win the game.

However, bizarrely, it shook Killavullen into life, and the introduction of Barthly Hayes to midfield was a telling factor. Charlie Lillis conjured up a fine point in the 27th minute to put us ahead by a point, but Mallow got a share of the spoils with an equalizer in the final kick of the game.

Honours even, on a difficult night to play football, but they game went ahead and was fulfilled by both clubs.

Killavullen now has played 3 games, and amassed five points from a possible six, which is very encouraging, for a largely young team.